Next Kraftwerke introduces new VPP software as a service solution NEMOCS

At E-world 2018 in Essen, Cologne-based Next Kraftwerke is introducing NEMOCS, a new service that allows users to operate their own virtual power plant.

Utilities and grid operators can use NEMOCS to network decentralized energy market assets - such as producers, consumers, and storage units - to aggregate their capacity and flexibility. Each individual asset can be operated as part of the larger network using remote control technology.

Examples of the practical application of the new software-as-a-service solution include the provision of short-term reserves for transmission system operators or the ability to balance grid fluctuation within seconds. For flexible assets, NEMOCS can also generate operating schedules that are tied to energy prices for power trading on the energy exchanges. The system displays and records real-time information on current output, reserve levels, and standby status of the assets. Price signals from the exchanges and network signals from the TSOs are processed in seconds and converted to commands for the networked, decentralized assets. This means the assets are operated based on demand and against price developments on the exchanges, which maximizes returns. Whether an asset is being used for control reserve or price-oriented supply, any existing restrictions on the asset are factored into the equation at all times by NEMOCS.

Following comprehensive consulting, NEMOCS is individually prepared for each customer. This includes an analysis of the customer’s requirements, the desired application, and the assets to be networked. If desired, Next Kraftwerke can also set up and connect the necessary remote- control units. Customers also have the option of Next Kraftwerke engineers standing by during operation and monitoring of the NEMOCS solution.

Jochen Schwill, co-founder and CEO of Next Kraftwerke: “With NEMOCS, we’re providing a comprehensive solution to third parties for setting up a virtual power plant. As we developed NEMOCS, we included every idea and feature that our own IT experts and energy traders have created and put to use.” Since 2009, Next Kraftwerke has operated the Next Pool Virtual Power Plant, which has since grown to more than 5,000 linked assets. These include energy producers from a variety of sources and industrial energy consumers for a total energy capacity of more than 4,000 MW, making Next Kraftwerke the operator of one of Europe‘s largest virtual power plants. Jochen Schwill continues: “We receive a lot of requests from Europe, Asia, and North America, asking if we can help manage flexibility, output from renewable sources of energy, or with production forecasts. We’re glad to be able to field these requests with NEMOCS.”

You can watch a simulation of NEMOCS at vpp.next-kraftwerke.com. Visitors to E-world in Essen from 6-8 February 2018, can stop by stand 401 in hall 1 for a demonstration of NEMOCS by Next Kraftwerke experts.

Author: Next Kraftwerke

Next Kraftwerke operates one of the biggest Virtual Power Plants in Europe. By utilizing the full potential of digitalization, the company networks more than 5,000 energy-producing and energy-consuming units in the Virtual Power Plant “Next Pool” with a total capacity of over 4,100 MW. Through its technology and trading, clients are able to produce and consume electricity when prices are best for them. By trading their aggregated power 24/7 on different energy spot markets the Virtual Power Plant also makes a substantial contribution to stabilizing the grid by smartly distributing the power generated and consumed by the individual units in times of peak load.